Small scale manufacturers that launch in Rockville, Maryland, join a collaborative hub known for its strong, supportive network for small businesses to grow and scale up
Childhood friends turned entrepreneurs, unexpected lightbulb moments, and niche ideas that bloom into business success. Small scale manufacturers that launch in Rockville, Maryland, join a collaborative hub known for its strong, supportive network for small businesses to grow and scale up. Meet some of our many small scale manufacturers who are thriving in Rockville.
MasPanadas is a leading Latin Food purveyor that sells its delicious products to multiple grocery stores throughout the country, on Amazon and through other distribution locations. Recently tripling its space, the company has seen a 600% increase in sales in 2023 alone. April 8 is national empanada day – but every day is a celebration of empanadas at this local favorite. It is a home-grown success story, in similar fashion to Jesse and Bens. This duo started as childhood friends with vision and pluck, and have become both entrepreneurs and restaurateurs. They’ve perfected healthy packaged fast-food treats and have grown into multiple food trucks and farmers’ markets, mobile catering and selling to grocers.
Twin Valley Distillers is the county’s first distillery since prohibition, bringing handcrafted spirits to its customers, from Port Antonio Rum to Limoncello. Owner & Master Distiller, Edgardo Zuniga welcomes each season with a new lineup of flavors to match the weather. Four seasons long, it’s a popular gathering place for the locals and visitors alike. If honey wine speaks to you, Clear Skies Meadery is a perfect destination. Mead enthusiasts and curious newcomers find unique flavors along with fun entertainment many nights of the week. Another great business venture that started with two friends, Manisha and Yancy, and a unique idea.
Who doesn’t love a great cup of Joe? Mayorga Coffee brews the perfect cup. Mayorga beans come directly from Latin American farms with no middleman. Customers delight in the authentic, ethical and exceptional organic coffee. And what goes better with coffee than pie? Just as the name suggests, Dini’s Divine Pies Bakery delivers deliciousness. Made with freshly organic and locally source fruits, the pies are (shall we say it?), simply divine and enthusiasts call them edible works of art.
International cuisine is abundant among Rockville’s small scale manufacturing entrepreneurs. Panateca offers a variety of Venezuelan-inspired dishes, including their signature Cachitos which melt in your mouth, Pan de Jamón and savory baked goods. The company sells its delicious international foods at various Farmers’ Markets and other distribution points as it grows.
Dini’s Divine Pies is a small-batch pie company that makes everything by hand with love, using all butter crusts and seasonal ingredients. Their Rockville commissary kitchen has been an important launchpad for growth. Dini credits the great location for being able to reach customers throughout the DMV for pickups, pop-ups and deliveries, while also giving her small company access to other small businesses and partners who share resources and ideas. Dini says, “Rockville is becoming a hub for small-scale makers who want to grow sustainably while staying connected to their community. The support here – from the kitchen space to the REDI team – makes it possible for businesses like mine to take creative risk and build something meaningful.”
Speaking of sweets, Savvy Treats is another local favorite artisan bakery and pastry shop right in Rockville. With over 30 years of baking experience, Savvy Treats creates artfully designed special occasion cakes, wedding cakes, custom cupcakes and cookies, and more. A recent customer review commented on her experience ordering treats for a baby shower. “Please order your cookies from Savvy Treats! Oh my goodness! The amazing detailing in the cookies exceeded my expectations.”
Caring is the main ingredient for Sunflower Bakery. This unique business thrives on enabling pathways to employment for young adults and teens with learning differences through workforce training in pastry arts, culinary arts, hospitality and related industries. Sunflower provides an inclusive, one-of-a-kind professional training experience to foster employment readiness. Customers love the dedication to celebrating differences, while the treats and savory options are delicious. Sunflower Bakery serves up a wide array, from pastries, donuts, cakes and breads to sweet treat favor bags and cupcakes.
Going door to door (and pounding the pavement) throughout the Washington, D.C. area is how the growing Z&Z – Manoushe Bakery got its start encouraging other businesses to sell its products including frozen flatbreads and spices. International specialty food companies find a great home in Rockville. Z&Z specializes in delicious Middle Eastern flatbreads and spices which draw customers from miles around. Their expansion plan included selling their spices direct to consumer on both their website and Amazon – where they are proud to be the #1 bestselling za’atar. Their products can be found in many independent grocery stores and they provide food service spices to numerous local businesses as well. More reasons to try Z&Z products and bakery? The New York Times called it one of the 25 Best Restaurants in DC for 2024.
Shafa Blends, which means ‘healing’ in Farsi and Arabic, is a woman-owned, family run artisan tea and spice shop that features a wide variety of teas, spices, herbs, botanical, salts, gifts, and other specialty items. The shop hand crafts a variety of tea and spice blends in small batches, and focus on creating custom blends that make you better. With wellness as a passion, Shafa Blends has a list of customer favorites, including turmeric ginger tea and Persian rose garden tea. When you are ready to think outside the box with spices, try the unusual omelet-on-the-go seasoning spice blend. Shafa Blends welcomes customers in their shop, with products also available online and at local Farmers’ Markets.
For business owner Bright Djampa, it was his freshman year of college that sparked his lightbulb moment. He realized there was a massive gap in the market place for food that takes care of one’s brain health. Omega 3 Nutrition was born, offering a growing line of clean-label, brain-boosting food products designed to support cognitive health and overall wellness. The flagship offerings include granola bars and cereal made with whole grains, plant-based ingredients, and enriched with naturally sourced omega-3 fatty acids. The company is a recent recipient of the Maryland Momentum Fund, an initiative of the University System of Maryland to provide late seed investment funding for promising technology ventures. “Launching Omega 3 Nutrition while I was a student at the University of Maryland was one of the most transformative experiences of my life,” said Bright Djampa, who is Founder and CEO of Omega 3 Nutrition. “The support I received from faculty and the Pitch Dingman competition played a huge role in bringing the vision to life. Winning $20,000 through Pitch Dingman gave me the runway to take this venture full-time after graduation — to hire my first team members, refine the product, and start building out a real business. University of Maryland didn’t just give me an education — it gave me the platform to pursue something meaningful and scalable from day one.”
A warm and inviting atmosphere, not to mention delicious aromas, welcomes customers to Fresh Baguette. Customers flock to the location for scratch-made artisanal croissants, pastries, baguette sandwiches, cakes, tarts and much more – all crafted with love by skilled pastry chefs. An obsession for quality is a signature of Fresh Baguette. Take, for example, the process of making its signature baguettes: a cold-dough process that produces unique flavors, homemade “levain” (leaven), and made using state-of-the-art equipment imported from France. The end result is a baguette that is authentic with moisture and just the right crunch. It takes a full two days, 11 steps, carefully selected ingredients, and the skill of a pastry chef to make our soft and flaky, mouthwateringly tender croissant.
We continue this tour through some of Rockville’s small scale manufacturers with scrumptious cookies from the Bean Bag Bakery. Unique combinations include espresso double chocolate, apple crumb or cranberry white chocolate blondie, all side by side with favorites like their chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies – available in-store, online and for delivery. In addition to expanding their cookie line to include brownies, blondies and bars, they now have a wholesale division which sells to local shops including Attman’s Deli, Bethesda Bagels and Carmen’s Italian Ice, to name a few. From the website, they ship to all 50 states, including Hawaii. The original Bean Bag Deli & Catering company opened for business in 1977 and counts itself as the first coffee shop in Montgomery County. After 32 years in Bethesda, they moved to Rockville which has enabled their expansion plans. With delicious deli, to go breakfast and lunch options, gift baskets and catering, the Bean Bag Deli and Catering Co., is still family owned and operated and a favorite stop for foodies.
For the crafty and creative, Rockville’s Hammer & Stain is a DIY studio and workshop specializing in home décor projects. Let the creative juices run wild with a variety of both in-studio and take-home options for individuals and groups. Arts are alive in Rockville, and Hammer & Stain is the perfect destination. It’s a great option for a group gathering – a little wine and a little paint make a creative and fun combination. A recent customer noted, “What a wonderful time we had at Hammer & Stain! More than a DIY shop, they make it fun and exciting and at the end of the evening, you get to take home a beautiful project!” Find specialized event opportunities including private parties, kids’ events and a summer camp. If you prefer to Hammer@Home, Hammer & Stain has you covered with a variety of fun projects to go for adults and kids.
If an icy cold, delicious dessert is what you crave, there is no better stop than Carmen’s Italian Ice, Maryland’s dessert emporium. Over the years, the Rockville store has become a go-to destination with an established and strong loyal customer base. The gelati, a layered delight of custard, Italian ice and topped with another luscious layer of custard. The Italian ice, made fresh daily, frozen custard milk shakes and more all add up to simply the best ice cream stop in the area. Carmen’s specialty creations include the Jersey Shore Mocha, the Island Refresher and Carmen’s Cherry Coke. Their treats are available at other local stores as they have expanded. A popular catering option is to have Carmen’s carts and trucks loaded with treats to get any party going. And, another unique feature of this local favorite, Carmen’s has a ‘Name of the Day’ promotion – if your name happens to be the one chosen, a free gelati is in your future.
Silver Branch Rockville Beerworks is a new brewery space in Rockville designed for multiple uses: shipping, receiving, packaging – and most importantly – brewing some of the best beer in the area. The company is expanding to meet the growing demand for their beer, food and hospitality. Moving the brewing operations to Rockville helps them expand the tradition of bringing people together over beer and food, while also increasing the range of food they offer at their multiple area locations. The company brews a variety of beers inspired by both European and American traditions, with flagship beers including The Glass Castle (Czech Pilsner), Dr. Juicy (IPA New England) and the Cloud Nine (German wheat). Rockville Beerworks has many events to draw customers, many who become regulars, for music, trivia nights and space for private parties.
To find out how to pursue your own success story in Rockville, Maryland, reach out to Richelle Wilson.
